Saturday, September 29, 2007

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.As far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,they are vexations to the spirit.If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain and bitter;for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.Exercise caution in your business affairs;for the world is full of trickery.But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;many persons strive for high ideals;and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;for in the face of all aridity and disenchantmentit is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,gracefully surrendering the things of youth.Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees and the stars;you have a right to be here.And whether or not it is clear to you,no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,whatever you conceive Him to be,and whatever your labors and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,it is still a beautiful world.Be cheerful.Strive to be happy.

-- Max Ehrmann (1927)

A recent event reminded me of this lifelong gift from my late English teacher. I have cherish and literally tried to uphold to its every word.

Monday, September 24, 2007

If the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hasan, Dato Shahrizat and Dato Nazri was wronged and labeled as “bodoh” by some commentators in Nuraina Samad’s blog here, it is perhaps due to their poor timing and insensitive remarks. Perhaps it is out of sympathy and anger, knowing the couple had suffered enough for their lackadaisical attitude. I am not about to echo the IGP and Minister and be their apologist. However, fact is fact and they are right.

Having undergone a legal battle involving the Child Protection Act, I am quite aware the existence of such law. There is such law to protect children from negligent and abusive parents. Negligent and abusive parents exist and are quite prevalent in this country!

I am not unsympathetic but fact is fact. In the case of Nurin Jazlin, the parents were partly to blame to allow her to roam the night market by herself unaccompanied and unmonitored. What more with a child sex molester widely known to be roaming the area. The lapse in attention by Jazimin Abdul Jalil and his wife, Norazian Bistaman lead to the death of their 8-year old daughter. Some parents do take things for granted and they should be made aware of such danger.

It is unfair for many parties to lay the responsibility on the police when some parents have shirked from their responsibility to take the necessary precaution. In a city of few million people, finding a lost 8-year old is almost like finding a rusted needle in a pile of haystack. What more with piling cases and insufficient resources. The police can be seek to help but the first party of responsibility lies with the parents.

Assuming there is no politics in play, the statement by the IGP and Ministers should be taken factually. It’s most unlikely Nurin Jazlin's parents will be charged. Perhaps, it is necessary to be brutally honest to make the public more aware that parental negligence is an offense under the Child Protection Act. Negligent and also abusive parents pose danger to children and it goes beyond just their physical, emotional and psychological well being but even death. The impact of abusive parents is more vicious as per the maxim "abuse children grow up to be abusive parents".

The Child Protection Act covers for parental responsibility to provide for food, clothing, and schools. It includes monitoring, guiding and supervising children’s physical, educational, emotional and spiritual development. It is not easily enforceble for the law to cover for poor parenting skill, but there is sufficient provision for parental apathy towards their responsibility.

Based on the observations of both my teacher-parents, neglected children tend to be playful, lack disciplien and as a result do poorly in school. Common indication of negligent or poor parenting are children allowed to roam free out of their home and their play activity left uncurtailed. The unsupervised and unmonitored freedom given to children is the root cause that later lead to other adolescence problems like indiscipline, gangsterism, drugs, sexual promiscuity, and others.

Surmise to say, parental neglect is the root cause and contributing factor of social ill amongst youth. Despite the affluence of society of today, the problems of parental neglect, that is assumed as common in the lower economic class, are now common occurrence amongst higher end of society.

Is the Child Protection Act of 2001 effective? Perhaps its worth sharing the experiance of my own battle in the courts to save few children from abusive parent and step parent few years ago. Our attempt to save the children had the only option to seek their removal from the abusive parent. Alas it was denied because of inadequate law.

The law only give living parent the locus standi for guardianship. There is no or too stringent provisions and process to remove the parental right of negligent and abusive parents and to award child custody to other family members. What hope is there to safe the children when the court allowed for the children to live under the same roof with the abusive parents? What hope to protect children when they couldn't distinguish between capital punishment and child abuse? Although there are avenues under syariah law, indifference was another insurmountable barrier we faced.

Since the incident, the physical abuse has lessen. However, there is no guarantee that their suffering has reduced. It merely changed from physical abuse to emotional and psychological abuse and from abuse to neglect. With the parent more aware of their rights, the burden of proof on the Welfare Department is heavier should the abuse occur again.

It was a frustating situation. Till today, I keep wondering whether the Ministry of Welfare, Family Development and Women Affair has the necessary steps to make it difficult to remove parental right of negligent and abusive parents. Is it sufficient to merely hope the abusive parents volunteer to attend counselling? Is there sufficient resources to organise such counselling session? Is the Welfare Department's far in-between surprise checks sufficients to monitor the children's welfare and their education? With limited budget allocation available for Welfare Department, is there sufficient capacity for them?

Family development is nucleus for human development. Has the era of “Bapa Pembangunan Modal Insan” evolve into any significant progress in this area? I have always had reservation of the human resource development strategy in the RMK9, which is merely sloganised education development. One can't expect the strategy to look at family development as important. The same vicious circle of negligence and abuse will only repeat itself.

My fatihah and prayers to Allahyarhamah Nur Jazlin and all the victimised children of negligent and abusive parents.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

In Malaysia, we have been conditioned by our local culture to celebrate the Hari Raya or end of fasting of Ramadhan. In other Muslim countries, particularly where the celebration has not been adulterated by culture, the true celebration lies in the month Ramadhan.

Ramadhan is a month for Muslims to exercise restraint, seek foregiveness and reflect. It is a month where Muslim is obliged to fast by refraining from food, drinks and other normal habits from dawn to dusk. Without such habit, Muslim have more time to spend on ibadah. To many who have experienced it, ones performance of ibadah is more driven and spiritually fulfilling and enlightening while fasting and during Ramadan. There lies the "real" sense of celebration and festivities. However, it does not mean to neglect ones responsibilities.

The culturisation to emphasise the celebration of Eidul Fitri and the practise of its celebration has gone beyond its true meaning. Upon the completion Ramadhan, the celebration of Eidul Fitri becomes an immediate transformation to practice of waste and over indulgence, and the spiritual development achieved during Ramadan compromised.

I received two e-mail today.

One reminded me of a hadith that tells Ramadhan is incomplete without seeking foregiveness prior to it. This is unlike the usual practise in the early morning on first of Syawal. Thus, I would like to take the opportunity to seek foregiveness to all.

The other e-mail reminded us to be sensitive with the pight of the poor and offers an opportunity to help. Since Ramadhan encourages us to be modest, we could perhaps transfer the savings to donate and support the effort of the Islamic Relief Malaysia Berhad. For more information, see below:

Get more information on their blog here or click the above image. Donation can be made online here.

I would like to share some peculiar experiance. In my previous career, I came upon many circumstances of non-Muslims with Muslim colleagues experimented with fasting and grown to enjoy it. For whatever reason, it is an interesting phenomenon for thoughts and perhaps, interfaith appreciation and understanding.

To All, Wishing Happy Fasting & May Your Ramadhan Be An Enlightening One.

I stand together in solidarity with All Blog (protem President here) and Band of Bloggers to petition the DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong on a host of concerns on the state of the Nation under the leadership of the Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah bin Ahmad. The country is in dire need to warrant for a constitutional intervention from the DYMM Tuanku on matters of security and sovereignty, nation's social, politics and economy structure, integrity in the administration of Government, law and order, civil liberties, and the constitution. Concern citizens could post their petition on Malaysia Today hereor e-mail toraja.petra.kamarudin@gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Sunday night, September 8th was a fine demonstration of multi-faith solidarity through Multifaith prayers held for Tun Dr Mahathir at the Blog House. When announced on Rocky Bru’s blog here, there were few Muslims expressing reservation out of fear such an act is deemed syirik or heretic.

It is a common reaction for Muslims to address uncertain area in their practise with tawhid or faith implication by avoiding it. For the unfamiliar, heresy, apostasy and accomplice to it (subahah) are act most condemned in Islam.

For those non-Muslims sincere in their gesture for Tun, their displeasure to such comments is understandable for it implies as though non-Muslims are insensitive and totally ignorant to the Muslims ways. Perhaps there should have been more diplomacy in expressing ones reservation openly. In the Newtonian world of Internet discussion, every action could sometimes bring about an opposition an equal reaction.

The way it is with religion, each comes with various strains of interpretations and orthodoxy. Its best left to within the realm of the particular faith to determine and even deal with it.

The benefit of doubt must be given to those Muslim taking a conservative stand to refrain from such Multifaith ritual. In the final analysis, the ultimate decision maker in the practise of religion goes to the individual. The long and short of religion is as one commonly said words amongst the Malays, “kubur masing-masing” (meaning every mortal is responsible to their own before the Creator). The individual’s decision should be guided either by knowledge or from learned ones.

Marina Mahathir visibly touched by the love from all Malaysians for her father

Generally when faced with an unfamiliar situation like Multifaith prayers, one could decide with sufficient confidence in ones own knowledge and understanding. Most important in one decision to join is that ones intention must be clear.

One Mufti (contrary to the opinion of some quarter of the public of him) is very much involved in interfaith dialogues abroad. In one dialogue in Europe, he was offered to lead prayers for world peace, while others follow and later rotated to be led by other, while he follows. While he agreed to the performance of such prayers, he declined to the proposed arrangement for it is heretic for him to follow the prayers rituals of others. Finally its agreed that each perform their own prayers in their own ways with a common purpose.

That is exactly what was practise at Blog House. The Muslims perform their regular Maghrib prayers and followed by 'doa' lead by the Imam. They later joined the others outside the premise to observe the prayers perform by the other faith. This is a similar to the act of Prophet Muhammad to stand to give respect to a Jewish death procession ritual.

For the comfort of the unfamiliar, the Imam, Dr Feisal Abdul Rauf is no stranger to Malaysia. He was raised here and studied at St. John Institution, Kuala Lumpur. His father was the late Egyptian Professor Abdul Rauf, the man who established Kolej Islam, Klang and later called again to be the first Rector for International Islamic University of Malaysia. Dr Feisal is involved in the interfaith Cordoba Initiative (press here) to build understanding of Islam in the West. One notable person involved in the Cordoba Initiative is Karen Armstrong.

Before the performance of the Maghrib prayers, one of the organiser requested one Muslim Blogger to perform the call for prayers or azan. Earlier he was seen busy preparing the area area for Muslims to pray. Unlike the complain one regular hear of the azan, the attitude by that organiser, who happens to be a Christian, was indeed a great gesture in interfaith respect and understanding on the Muslim ways.

As one Blogger used to confide, to promote a united Malaysian society, it is not to promote tolerance but appreciation and understanding to the other. The act of the organiser demonstrates that to promote harmony within the diverse mosaic of Malaysian society is to appreciate our differences and understand each others needs and at times insecurities. This was exactly what’s promoted by our nation's forefathers.

What matters most in interfaith interaction is a common respect for the right and manner of others to practise their own religion. The common act to condemn and ridicule other faith is not conducive to such spirit. Nevertheless, freedom to practise religion should be made without any imposition unto others, encroachment beyond ones faith, and within reasonable limit of practical considerations.

As advocated before by this Blogger, the solution to societal problems is best left to society to decide. Where the adversarial nature of politics and law failed, the attitude of appreciation and understanding within society is a solution by society itself to interfaith and also interracial issues.

Currently Tun Dr Mahathir is warded at the Intensive Care Unit of the IJN where his condition will be observed for the next few days as is routine in post-bypass surgery. The next 48-hours is the crucial period in his post operative care and hence he will be under close observation in Intensive Care Unit by a team of doctors and nurses. Overnight, he will be fully sedated.

Earlier, Tun Dr Mahathir was taken into the Operation Theatre Complex at 8.45am where immediate family members were allowed to see him before he was brought into the Operating Theatre. The operation commenced at 9.40am and was completed at 3.05pm. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at 3.30pm.

Doctors are happy that the procedure progressed as anticipated and his vital parameters thus far are stable.

Tun Dr Mahathir was operated on by a panel of surgeons led by Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang. The other members of the surgical team are Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Mayo Clinic, Prof Dr Hartzell Schaff, Dato Dr Rozali Wathooth, Dato Dr Azhari Yakub, Dato Dr Venugopal Balchand and Dr Mohamed Ezani Mohd Taib.

Tun Dr Mahathir had been admitted to Institut Jantung Negara on Sunday for the elective coronary bypass surgery.

IJN will continue to issue updates as and when there is significant change in Tun Dr Mahathir’s condition. Doctors have also advised against Tun Dr Mahathir receiving visitors apart from immediate family members.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Tun Dr Mahathir is due to be operated this morning Tuesday September 4th, 2007. Despite assurance by daughter-blogger Dato Marina Mahathir here that he is in good hands, Malaysian of all walk of life await with bated breath the outcome of the operation. The people's hopes and prayers accompanies Malaysia’s glorious son to the operating room.

The Utusan Malaysia report stands to be corrected for the turnout at the Solat Hajat prayers session at the Masjid Jame Kampung Baru was definitely more than 100. The fact that a Malay mainstream media reported it in such manner was already a good indication of the people’s concern for Tun.

Despite the heavy torrential rain late evening, there were three rows of about 350 performed the special prayers led by the Masjid’s Imam Besar. Apart from those mentioned, others present to pray together with Dato Mukhriz Mahathir were former Federal Court Judges Tan Sri Kadir and Dato’ Eusoff, Parlimentary Secretary for the Ministry for Environment, Dato Sazmi Meah, former Parti Keadilan Deputy President and Member of PRIMA, Encik Rahman Othman, former Treasury and Sime Darby, Encik Din Merican, Masjid Chairman, Dato Aziz, members of Pemuda UMNO, ANSARA and Prowaris, and the regular Jemaah. There was an anonymous donor providing nasi lemak dinner for the attendance.

As told by Encik Sufi Yusof, his Press Secretary, the first few well wishers to call in yesterday were PAS’s President Hj Hadi Wang, Deputy President Nasaruddin Jalil and Mahfuz Omar. Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim was the first to visit him in the morning.

Despite the reserved coverage of Dr Mahathir by the oppressed mainstream media, his popularity with the public has not waned. Foto-blogger Jinggo, photographing the Merdeka parade here, related a noticeable reception from the public upon the announcement of his attendance by Emcee, Mahadzir Lokman. Earlier the night before at the Dataran Merdeka ceremony and Live via RTM, the mere mention of his name draws a strong applause from the public, comparable to the present Prime Minister.

To many young Malaysians including 11-year old blogger Aishah here, Tun Dr Mahathir is their only memory of a Malaysian Prime Minister. His immense contribution to the country could not be denied. He will always remain appreciated by fellow Malaysians for bringing Malaysia to its present economic standing and international recognition. Many will remember Dr Mahathir for steering the country to safety during the financial crisis of 1997/98.

Despite his advancing age, he has not let up to “tegur” the weakness of the present leadership. After his 1989 heart operation, many Malaysian will remember that he accelerated the industrialisation drive of the country. While, the same is not to be expected of him this time around, many Malaysian still count on Dr Mahathir to be their voice to express concern on the decaying state of the country.

At the moment, he will also need the prayers and expression of love from all Malaysian for the more crucial post-operation recovery. Other than the usual expression of well wishes with flowers, and greeting cards, can anyone get him a good kueh koci and apam manis? And off course, it has to be in accordance with his dietary requirements.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Tun Dr Mahathir is scheduled to undergo a heart by-pass operations at the Institiut Jantung Negara (IJN), Kuala Lumpur tomorrow Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. A special Solat Hajat prayers will be held tonight September 3rd, 2007 after the Isya prayers at the Masjid Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur to pray for a successful operation. Dato Mukhriz has confirmed his attendance. All are invited. Lets all Malaysian pray for the well being of our beloved statesman!